Apple tree named &#39;gala mgcp&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Apple tree named ‘GALA MGCP’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; after flower senescence, receptacles are reddish pink in color; relatively early fruit-coloring; numerous fruit produced per plant; and high quality fruits that are yellow in color heavily blushed with red.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Apple Tree Named ‘GALA MGCP’

Inventors: Paulus Mathieu Jocobus Hermanus Janssen & Cornelis AloysiusJohannes Vissers

Applicants: Boomkwekerijen Gebr. Hanssen B.V. & Vissers Orchard &Nursery Inc.

Filed: Oct. 23, 2021

Ser. No. 63/271,145

Inventors and Applicants hereby claim the priority benefit of thisprovisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Malus domestica Borkh.

Cultivar denomination: ‘GALA MGCP’.

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicants/Assignees on Jul. 11, 2018,application number 2018/2943. Foreign priority is not claimed to thisapplication.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica Borkh. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘GALA MGCP’.

The new Apple tree is a whole plant mutation of Malus domestica Borkh.‘GALA MITCHGLA’, not patented. The new Apple tree was discovered andselected by the Inventors as a single plant within a population of treesof ‘GALA MITCHGLA’ grown in a controlled environment in Grey Highlands,Ontario, Canada in 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Apple tree by grafting in a controlledenvironment in Nederweert, The Netherlands since the spring of 2016 hasshown that the unique features of this new Apple tree are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Apple tree has not been observed under all possible combinationsof environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘GALA MGCP’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘GALA MGCP’ as a new and distinct Apple tree:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. After flower senescence, receptacles are reddish pink in        color.    -   4. Relatively early fruit-coloring.    -   5 Numerous fruit produced per plant.    -   6. High quality fruits that are yellow in color heavily blushed        with red.

Trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of the mutationparent, ‘GALA MITCHGLA’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Fruits of trees of the new Apple color about two to three        weeks earlier than fruits of trees of ‘GALA MITCHGLA’.    -   2. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are more red in color than        fruits of trees of ‘GALA MITCHGLA’.    -   3 Fruits of trees of the new Apple do not have stripes whereas        fruits of trees of ‘GALA MITCHGLA’ have stripes.

Trees of the new Apple can be compared to trees of Malus domestica‘Gala’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,637. In side-by-sidecomparisons, trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of‘Gala’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Fruits of trees of the new Apple color earlier than fruits of        trees of ‘Gala’.    -   2. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are more red in color than        fruits of trees of ‘Gala’.    -   3. After flower senescence, receptacles of trees of the new        Apple are reddish pink in color whereas receptacles of trees of        ‘Gala’ are yellowish green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Apple tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Apple tree.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical tree of ‘GALA MGCP’ grown in an outdoor orchard.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of atypical flowering branch of ‘GALA MGCP’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view oftypical receptacles of ‘GALA MGCP’ after the flowers have senesenced.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close-up view oftypical fruits of ‘GALA MGCP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe trees grown during the late summer in Nederweert, TheNetherlands in an outdoor orchard and under cultural practices typicalof commercial Apple tree production. Trees were two or three years oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. During the productionof the trees, day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 30° C. and nighttemperatures ranged from 8° C. to 15° C. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages for typical trees and tree parts. The actualmeasurements of any individual tree or tree parts, or any group of treesor tree parts, of the new Apple tree may vary from the stated average.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Malus domestica Borkh. ‘GALA MGCP’.-   Parentage: Whole plant mutation of Malus domestica Borkh. ‘GALA    MITCHGLA’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Typically by grafting onto a rootstock.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth            rate.        -   Tree height.—About three meters.        -   Tree diameter.—About 1 meter to 1.5 meter.        -   Growth rate.—About 20 cm to 30 cm per year.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 40 cm to 70 cm.            Diameter: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Internode length: About 3 cm            to 10 cm. Strength: Strong, firm. Angle of attachment: About            60° to 75° from main trunk axis. Texture: Glabrous; woody            and slightly rough. Color: Close to 166A variably flushed            with close to 178B. Lenticels: Density: Moderate to dense.            Color: Pale brown.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 7 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 4 cm to 6 cm. Shape: Ovate            to obovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse to slightly cordate.            Margin: Crenate to serrate; undulate. Texture, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Rough,            pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Close to 144B. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 144C. Fully developed leaves, upper            surface: Close to 143A; venation, close to 145A. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C; venation,            close to 147D. Petioles: Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm to 4 mm. Texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to between 141C and 143A variably flushed with greyed            green.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers            arranged on panicles; freely flowering habit with about six            to ten flowers per inflorescence; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering in April            and May in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about 1.5 to 2 weeks on the            plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm to 6 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 4 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 5 mm to 10 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1            cm to 2 cm. Shape: Round to oval. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Close to between 58C and 63C.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl; not imbricate. Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Width:            About 1 cm to 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:            Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When opening, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 155C slightly tinged with close to            63C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155C. Fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 155C slightly tinged with            close to 63C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 4 mm to 6 mm. Width: About 2 mm to            4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute to obtuse. Base: Cordate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 144B. Color, lower            surface: Close to 144B; towards the apex, slightly tinged            with close to 187A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 cm to 4 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm            to 2 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° to            90° from stem. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            146D tinged with close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 20 per flower.            Filament length: About 2 cm to 3 cm. Filament color: Close            to 155A. Anther length: About 5 mm to 10 mm. Anther shape:            Bi-lobed. Anther color: Close to 15A. Pollen amount: Scarce.            Pollen color: Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity: About five            per flower. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:            Trumpet-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 144D. Style length:            Less than 1 cm. Style color: Close to 144C to 144D. Ovary            color: Close to 144D.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Ripening time.—About 160 to 170 days.        -   Postproduction longevity.—About one year in cold storage.        -   Yield.—Higher than average.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Length.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.        -   Fruit weight.—Typically individual fruits will weigh between            160 to 190 gr depending on environmental conditions.        -   General shape in profile.—Conic.        -   Depth of cavity.—Flat to medium, about 1 cm.        -   Width of cavity.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Basin.—Medium to deep.        -   Fruit stalk length.—Medium to long.        -   Fruit stalk diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Fruit stalk color.—Close to 176A.        -   Fruit skin color.—Ground color is yellow; 90% of the area is            overlain with red.        -   Lenticels.—Quantity: Medium. Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm.        -   Flesh texture.—Firm, compact.        -   Flesh color.—Close to 10D.        -   Flavor.—Rich, aromatic.        -   Locules.—Quantity per fruit: Five. Length: About 2 cm.            Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovate.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per locule: None to about three depending on            environmental conditions. Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Color: Close to 200A.-   Temperature tolerance: The new Apple tree has been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, trees of the new Apple have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Apple    trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Apple tree named ‘GALA MGCP’ asillustrated and described.